While Gregg is taking a photo of the tree, I am taking a photo of Gregg.
This tree fell a few years ago. We have slowly watched its roots, caked with mud and dirt that formed a perfect round, slowly disintegrate into what you see above. That was the photo Gregg took. Nature creates extraordinary abstract art.
The weather is finally turning warmer, new shoots are starting to show and flowers, like the Spring Beauty below, are carpeting the ground in great numbers.
A scene shared many times before, near the path just before we get to the boardwalk across the marsh area.
We started to hear a cacophony of noise, and we assumed it was the sound of hundreds of frogs out there somewhere. We didn't see one frog but in the shallow water there were dozens of tadpoles. I mentioned this in my previous post in the video.
They were at a stage much bigger than I remember seeing before.
Gregg took photos of the ducks but we didn't recognize them.
Any help in their ID would be gratefully appreciated. They seem to have long beaks, and one is more muted in color, a female perhaps.
The turtles were out enjoying the sunshine.
I got a pretty good close up of this one.
I think he is actually smiling!
This next one is a Snapping Turtle. There were several swimming around, some much larger than this.
One was swimming towards these three Coots. Gregg said they knew the snapper was there and moved away quickly but didn't fly off.
I am going to end this post here and will share more of our walk next time.
Have a great day everyone, and thank you so much for looking at my post.
What a WONDERFUL outing. Nature is the best artist - and I love her galleries too.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally, the best! Thanks EC :)
DeleteNever did see a turtle! This post made me 'wish I was there'. Oh well, I had my days of enjoyment. Getting older is very prohibitive.
ReplyDeleteMy older friends say the same Valerie. You must have some lovely memories.
DeleteThe root looks like the antlers f a deer.
ReplyDeleteUsed to have tortoise like this but it grew and grew till larger than a plate. Released it to a lake nearby where there are plenty of friends for it
I'm glad you had the opportunity to enjoy a tortoise. My son had one for several years.
DeleteFotografias de uma grande beleza, estão espectaculares.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e bom fim-de-semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Muito obrigado. Um abraço e um bom fim de semana para você também :)
DeleteA lovely walk with nature and yes that turtle is differently smiling!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret and I thought so too :)
DeleteThere will soon be even more frogs leaping around! I wonder if the snapping turtle lives up to its name? Amazing markings on them. The fallen tree trunk in the water is a good place for them to gather.
ReplyDeleteThere certainly will. I will be back to take photos :) I once saw a poor Canada Geese limping and my first thought was did he have a run-in with a snapping turtle.
DeleteBeautiful nature. Calming to be out in it on such a pretty day.
ReplyDeletebetsy
Thanks Betsy, I totally agree :)
DeleteImagine the convenience of carrying your house with you wherever you went. In some circles, turtles nearby are said to bring luck and longevity. You sure saw a lot of them that day. :)
ReplyDeleteHow interesting Penelope. Thank you for sharing that :) Yes, it would be very convenient.
Deletewow, wow and wow on all those turtle photos. love them all... my favorite view today is the marsh. I love swamps and marshy places. to cute on the tree photographer and I wish bob liked to take photos
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra, I remember the swamps in Florida, so beautiful! I'm very lucky my tree photographer enjoys taking photos. He has a keen eye for such things and I love to see through his camera lens.
DeleteGreat turtle close-ups! And that one, look at his long claws!! Those upended roots really are nature art. Seems you could make something with it. But they likely do not allow you to remove anything from there. HUGE fat tadpoles! They must have the perfect environment.
ReplyDeleteHi Ginny, I noticed those claws also. No, they wouldn't allow it but yes, I could just see someone making that into a piece of art. I am looking forward to seeing those tadpoles the next time we go there. There will be frogs all over the place and I do enjoy them. Fascinating creatures!
DeleteHello, love the nature scenes and photos.. My favorites are the tadpoles and turtles. Happy Friday, I hope your day and weekend is great!
ReplyDeleteThank you Eileen, the tadpoles and turtles are favorites of mine too. Enjoy the rest of your day and have a great weekend :)
DeleteTruly marvelous Spring rambles. And particularly I enjoyed seeing the tadpoles! Companions of my Middle Atlantic childhood in S.E. Penn. Heading back to Honolulu next month, it is possibly the last time I will discover them rambling through familiar woods such as these. All right here courtesy of yOUR sharing. Mahalo, Dear <3
ReplyDeleteHi Cloudia, glad you enjoyed them and how exciting you will be heading back to Honolulu. I look forward to your next adventure :) Mahalo and Aloha dear friend :)
DeleteThese are wonderful shots!
ReplyDeleteThank you William :)
Deletelovely to be outside with nature!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is :)
DeleteWonderful series of photos! They make me want to be there. I am no good with most waterfowl...need to read back through and see if anyone gave them an ID.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rose, appreciate that :)
DeleteDenise, you and Gregg go on great adventures. I too love how marvelous nature treats us if we have eyes to see. Thank you for sharing your lovely photos. The smiling turtle is adorable.
ReplyDeleteWe do enjoy our local parks, thanks Martha Ellen :)
DeleteI love your walks through Huntley Meadows. The turtles sinning themselves is my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you enjoyed this Diane, thank you :)
DeleteI love a walk like this one! Off to read the comments to see if I can learn something about duck ID!
ReplyDeleteHi Sallie, no ID as of yet but I am hopeful :)
Deletei did not have time to read the comments, so maybe you already know....and i am just guessing on the i.d. of the ducks...i think the first is a female mallard and the second a male canvasback.
ReplyDeletei really enjoyed seeing the turtles and those huge tadpoles!!!
isn't it wonderful to get outside and enjoy the beauties of nature? have a wonderful weekend denise. the weather is so springlike here in new jersey!!!
Hey, just said to Sallie that I was hopeful someone would be able to ID, so thanks Debbie, so grateful! Yes it is wonderful, my favorite way of getting exercise :) Have a wonderful weekend too Debbie, and may that good weather you are having last.
DeleteHi Denise,
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful and varied post, we have no Tadpoles as yet, a little early, we had a covering of snow last Wednesday morning, but good to see them.
No idea with the ducks but super images of the colourful Turtles.
All the best, John
Thank you John, glad you enjoyed. Wow, you had snow? All the best to you too :)
DeleteWonderful nature scenes and all of your photographs are a joy.
ReplyDeleteLoved the turtles!
All the best Jan
Sweet of you to say so Jan, thank you so much. All the best to you too :)
Delete